Semiclassical isotropization of the Universe during a de Sitter phase

Semiclassical states for the Wheeler-DeWitt equation of a Bianchi type I model in the presence of a scalar field are analyzed. It is outlined how this scheme can effectively describe more general situations, where the curvature of the Bianchi type IX model and a proper potential term for the scalar field are present. The introduction of a cosmological constant term accounts for the quasi-isotropization mechanism which bridges the proposed framework with a late isotropic phase. This result makes the semiclassical Bianchi I model a plausible scenario for the Universe preinflationary phase.